Power control mechanism



Jan. 25, 1938. P. E. HAWKINS POWER CONTROL MECHANISM Filed sept. 5,1956' 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 II w \l PAupnHAwKms- I ATTORNEY.

Jan. 25, 1938. v p E w ms 2,106,502

POWER CONTROL MECHANISM PAuLDI-IAwKms.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 25, I938. lw s 2,106,502

POWER CONTROL MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 5, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 2 +5INVENTOR.

PAUL E HAWKINS. BY dun-6 ATTORNEY.

o grammatically adjacent the shaft 14 is provided with a collar 50Patented Jan. 25, 1938 2,106,502

' UNlTED STATES PATENT orries v rowan 00:3

Paul Hawkins, Lnkewood, 0hio, alsignor to The Baker-Baulang Company,Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application September 5, 1936, Serial No. some 12Claims. (Cl. 192-150) This invention relates to an automatic cut-outFigs. 1 and 2, respectively, but showing a diilermechanism for stoppinga motor, more particuent embodiment of the invention. larly a powertransmitting mechanism operable Fig. 8 is a sectional view of theembodiment as a safety device against damage where the load shown inFigs. 6 and 7 on the line 8-8 01' Fig. 9. on the parts driven by themotor and transmit- Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the parts shown tingpower therefrom becomes excessive or exin Fig. 8.

ceeds that beyond which the parts are set or Fig. 9a is a section on theline (l-80 of Fig. 8. adjusted. By way of illustration, the mecha- Fig.10 is a view of the switch box, partly i nism is disclosed ascontrolling a switch in an section. electrical circuit, for example, anignition circuit, In the drawings, I' indicates as an entirety the 10where the motor is of the internal combustion power transmitting andcontrol mechanism emtype. bodying my invention, such mechanism compris-One object of the invention is to provide an ing power transmittingelements indicated at la improved mechanism of this character which isand motor control elements indicated at lb, the 1 positive in operationand effective to stop the power transmitting elements in being shown asmotor immediately the load exceeds the prededriving a rotatable member,such asthe drum 2 termined maximum load. of a winch 3. The winch 3isshown as mounted Another object of the invention is to provide on thechassis l of a wheel mounted vehicle an improved power transmittingmechanism of adapted to support a derrick or other'hoisting thischaracter operable to stop the motor withequipment for raising andhandling loads by 20 out disconnecting parts of the mechanism. means ofa rope or cable, which winds on and Another object of the invention isto provide unwinds from the drum 2. In this application an improvedpower transmitting mechanism havof the invention (a) the internalcombustion ing a pair of relatively movable normally biased motor 5,which is drivingly connected to the rear elements related to the movablecontact of an wheels 6 of the vehicle through a suitable trans- 25electric switch and operable to move said conmission 5a, is utilizedthrough a suitable power tact when the load on said mechanism exceedstake-off, indicated as an entirety at I, to drive a predetermined limit.the power transmitting elements la and (b) the A further object of theinvention is to provide motor control elements lb control the ignitionan improved mechanism of this character that circuit 5b for the motor 5,so that upon the break- 30 comprises few parts, is economically andeasily ing of the circuit, the motor stops. The power manufactured,assembled and installed and autotake-of! I may be of any well knownconstrucmatically re-adjusts itself to normal operating tion, itsconnection with a driven element of the conditions when the overload onthe mechanism transmission in and its disconnection from the is relievedor eliminated, so that manual resetlatter being controlled by a lever 8,in a well 35 ting or adjustment of parts, after each cut-out knownmanner. The driven element of the power operation, is avoided. take-of!I is connected to and drives a shaft 9, Other objects of the inventionwill be apparent which, through the power transmitting elements to thoseskilled in the art to which-my invention la, drives a sprocket II orother suitable power relates from the following description taken inelement. Where a sprocket I0 is .used, it trans- 4o connection with theaccompanying drawings, mits the power by a chain ii to a sprocket l2,wherein-- I the latter in turn operating through suitable Fig. 1 is afragmentary plan view of a truck in z i g to liotate f e power ran ng eemen s a own isrlliowing one iapplication of a mechanism embody Figs. 5and 5a p i the following:

g my inven ion. Fig 2 is a section on the line of Fig. 1 ll indicates ashaft suitably mounted at its outer in bearings in a hanger l5 andconnected at Fig. 3 is a sectional view partly on..the line 3-3 end itsinner end through a universal joint It to the of Fig. 5, the electricalcircuit being shown diashafi That element or the universal joint '6 Fig.4 is asection on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. a to receive h ft m The basewall of i 1 s a a a y p a v w. w th p s the joint element is connectedto the end of the broken away. shaft it by a bolt 11. It indicates anannular Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.- member having a.hub fitting and keyed to the Figs. 6 and '7 are views substantiallysimilar to collar "a, so as to be driven by the universal 55 joint. Themember ll is formed with a plurality of openings i9 (preferably two indiametrical relation). The openings ll are enlarged at their inner ends(that is, the ends adjacent the universal joint IE) to form shoulders 20which serve as seats for coiled springs 2|, the purpose of which willlater be set forth. 22 indicates a disk having a hub 22a loosely fittingthe shaft I4 and supporting the sprocket ill, the latter being securedto the hub as by welding. 23 indicates a plurality of rods, one for eachopening ll, mounted on the disk 22. Each rod 2l'extends through one ofthe openings I9 and the adjacent spring 2| and is provided at its-freeend with a head, preferably consisting of a washer 24 which is fixed inposition by a nut 25 threaded on the end portion of the rod. As shown, aspring 2| is interposed between each seat 20 and the adjacent washer 24and normally tends to force the annular member l8 and disk 22 towardeach other and substantially in face to face relation. By adjustment ofthe nuts 25, the tension of the springs may be increased or decreased tomeet various predetermined operating conditions. The rods 23 are shownrigidly mounted in openings 23a formed in the disk 22, being securedtherein in any suitable manner, but preferably having screw threadedengagement with the walls of the opening. The opposing faces of theannular member l8 and disk 22 are formed with radially extending relatedgrooves or channels 26, 26, respectively, preferably at either side ofthe shaft I4 and diametrically arranged, and in each two relatedchannels I provide a ball 21 (preferably a steel ball), which forms aninterlocking element between the side walls of the adjacent channels todrivingly connect the disk and annular member together, whereby thelatter drives the disk 22 and through it the sprocket ll. As shown inFigs 4, 5 and 5a, the side walls 260 of the channels 26, 26, areinclined outwardly relative to their median lines and operate as camsfor the balls, so that in the event any relative movement between theannular member I8 and disk 22 takes place, the engagement of the balls21 with oppositely disposed inclined walls or cams 26a will cause thedisk 22 to move away from the annular member 18 axially of the shaft l4against the tension of the springs 2|, such movement of the disk servingto actuate the motor control elements lb as later set forth, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 3. The disk 22 is provided on its periphery with aring 28, which encloses the annular member I8 and forms outer end wallsfor the related channels 26, 26', to prevent the escape of the balls 21,the collar Ila serving to limit the inward movement of the m 21. Thering 28 is secured to the periphery of the disk 22 by bolts 28'.

The motor control elements comprise the following: 29 indicates a casingsuitably supported by the chassis 4 and enclosing a pair of switchcontacts 30, 30, one thereof (30) being connected to a lead of thecircuit 5b and. supported in an insulator 30a mounted in one wall of thecasing. The other contact (30) is connected to the other lead of thecircuit 5b and carried by the arm ll of a sleeve 32, which is adjustablyfixed by a set screw 33 to a thrust member 34. The thrust member 34 isslidably supported in suitable openingsll formed in opposite side wallsof the casing 29 to move endwise, the inner end of the member beingrelated to the'disk 22, that is, in

close relation thereto, so 'that movement of the disk axially of theshaft Operates to move the thrust member endwise and thus disengage thecontact 30' from the contact 30. As will be understood, thedisengagement of the contacts ll, lla', breaks the circuit and thusstops the motor I. Surrounding the thrust member and between the sleeve32 and rear side wall of casing 28 I pro vide a spring 36 which normallytends to move the thrust member 34 in that direction which maintains thecontacts ll, ll, in electrical engagement and the inner of the thrustmember in operative relation to the disk 22. The adjustment of thesleeve l2 on the thrust member permits the tension of the spring to beregulated. It will be noted that the spring ll normally tends to holdthe contact ll in engagement with the contact ll, so that the latterserves as a stop to limit the endwise movement of the member 34 and todetermine the distance between its inner end and the outer face of thedisk 22. Accordingly, by adjusting the shank llb (which supports thecontact 30) endwise in the insulator lla, the distance between theseparts may be adjusted, as desired, so as to require a greater or lesseraxial movement of the disk 22 to break the circuit.

In operation, the power of the shaft 9 is transmitted through theelements l 8,21, 22, to the sprocket ID to rotate the drum 2, thesprings 2| being set to maintain these elements in operative and powertransmitting relation within any predetermined maximum resistance, forexample, a load of 10,000 lbs. Accordingly, the winch drum 2 may beoperated to raise a load weighing 10,000 lbs. or less, but if attempt ismade to raise a load weighing in excess of this maximum, the springs 2!will yield due to the torque resistance on the disk 22, and permitrelative rotative movement between the annular member I8 and disk 22 andby reason of such relative movement the 00- action between the balls 21and cam surfaces 25, 26a will effect movement of the disk 22 axially ofthe shaft H. The disk 22', when moved, will engage the thrust member 34and through it open the circuit lb as already set forth. Upon release ofthe load, the springs 2! will return the member I8 and disk 22 intooperative relation. The outer ends of the openings ll are large enoughto provide a space around the rods 23 so that danger of contact of therods with the walls of the openings during relative rotative movement ofthe member i8 and disk 22 is avoided.

Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 illustrate a different embodiment of theinvention, wherein the power take-off, indicated as an entirety at 'l'is arranged to be connected to and disconnected from the propeller shaft31 (see Fig. 6). A shaft 9', which is driven by the power take-off I,carries on its end portion, power transmitting elements, indicated as anentirety at la, and the sprocket III for the chain l i to drive thewinch drum 2, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The motor control elements, indicated as an entirety at ib, are mountedin a casing 29, which is supported on a bracket 29a (see Fig. 6). Inthis arrangement, the lever l adjacent the drivers position is connectedby a link 8a to a lever lb, the latter in turn being connected to theelement of the power take-off 1' that eifects driving connection withthe propeller shaft ll.

Referring particularly to Fig. 8, the power transmitting elements lacomprise the following: 38 indicates a tubular member fitting the endportion of the shaft 9 and suitably keyed thereto, whereby the tubularmember is driven by the shaft. The tubular member 38 is secured againsta shoulder 39 on the shaft by a bolt 4lrengaging to the annulus 22 inany desired manner.

a washer 4 I, which is seated on an internal shoulder in the tubularmember 38, the bolt being threaded into an opening formed in the end ofthe shaft 9'. At and surrounding its outer end the tubular member 38 isprovided with a ring l8, which is preferably welded to the tubularmember 38, as shown at l8a. The ring I8 is formed with a plurality ofopenings l9, preferably two openings in diametrical relation, for/apurpose later set forth. 22' indicates an annulus, formed integrallywith a hub 22a, loosely fitting the tubular member inwardly of the ringl8, the hub 22a having fixed to it the sprocket ID (the sprocket l0 andhub 22a being preferably integral). The annulus 22 is arranged to rotateand slide appear. 23' indicates a plurality of rods, one for eachopening l9, threaded at their inner ends into openings formed in theannulus 22'. The rods 23 extend through the openings l9 and support attheir outer ends an abutment 42, nuts being threaded on the free ends ofthe rods to limit the outward movement of the abutment. Within thetubular member 38 and between the end of the shaft 9' and the abutment42 is provided a coiled spring 2| which normally tends to force theabutment 42 outwardly axially of the shaft 9', and the abutment in turnthrough the 'nuts 25' and rods 23' normally forces the annulus 22'toward the ring l8. The opposed faces of the ;ring l8 and annulus 22'diametrically of the axis of the shaft 9 and tubular member 38, areformed with related radially extending grooves 26x, each havingoutwardly inclined side walls 26a adapted to serve as cams. 21 indicatesballs, preferably formed of steel, one mounted in each two relatedgrooves 261:, and forming an interlock between the ring l8 and annulus22', whereby the hub 22a and sprocket l0 are driven. The spring 2|serves to maintain these parts in operative or driving relation, butpermits the hub 22a and annulus 22 to move axially of the shaft 9' andtubular member 38 in the event the load on the sprocket exceeds apredetermined limit. In the event that an excessive load on the sprocketl0 results, the ring l8 will rotate relative to the annulus 22 and as aresult thereof the balls 21', through their engagement with the oppositecam walls 26a, will move the annulus axially of the tubular member 38and, through its engagement with a lever 34', operate the motor controlelements lb (later referred to), whereby the circuit 5b will be opened.The openings l9 are elongated, as shown in Fig. 9a, to permit of therelative rotative movement between the ring l8 and annulus 22' withoutdanger of the rods 23 engagihg with the walls of the openings. Theannulus 22 is provided with a collar 28 extending beyond the end thereofto enclose the ring l8 and abutment 42 and to form end walls for thegrooves 26cc. As the abutment is round, it is guided by the inner wallsof the collar 28'. The collar 28 is secured The collar 28' is providedwith an annular rib 43 which forms a shoulder to engage the operatingmember 34' of the motor control elements lb, when the annulus 22' ismoved axially due to an excessive load on the sprocket Ill.

The motor control elements lb comprise the following: m, 30m, indicatethe switch contacts 'connected to the leads of the circuit 5b. The

contact 30:1: is mounted on but suitably insulated from one wall of thecasing 29', whereas the contact 30a:' is mounted on but suitablyinsulated from an arm 34a connected to and operated by the member 34'.The operating member 34' is fixed to a rock shaft 35b, which is suitablymounted in the walls of the casing 28. A coiled spring 36' surroundingand guided by a rod 44 and disposed between the arm 34a and the adshownin Fig. 10. endwise on the tubular member 38 as will later To thoseskilled in the art to which myinvention relates many changes inconstruction and widely differing embodiments and applications of theinvention will suggest themselves without departing from its spirit andscope. My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrativeand are not intended to be in any sense limiting.-

What I claim is:

1. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a rotatablymounted member adapted to be drivingly connected to a mechanism forhandling loads, a driving member in concentric relation to said firstmentioned member, one of said members being movable relative to theother member in the direction of its axis, a spring mechanism connectedto one of said members and engaging the other member and normallytending to move said members toward each other, and interlocking meansbetween and engaging said members and operating to transmit power fromsaid driving member to said first mentioned member, but arranged to movesaid axially movable member away from the other member when said drivingmember rotates relative to said first mentioned member.

2. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a mechanismto be driven, a motor and an electric circuit including a springoperatednormally closed switch arranged when opened to stop said motor, ofconcentrically related elements mounted-to permit relative rotativemovements between them, one of said elements being connected to anddriven by said motor and the other element being connected to andoperable to drive said mechanism, one of said elements being movable inthe direction of its axis, the opposed faces of said elements beingprovided with related cams, a separate element between said elements inoperative relation to said cams and interlockingly engaged therewith todrivingly connect said elements together, a spring.

connected to one of said elements and arranged to bear against the otherof said elements and normally tending to prevent axial movement of saidaxially movable element relative to the other element and arranged toyield when the torque resistance on the element connected to saidmechanism exceeds the tension of said spring and permits relativerotative movement between said elements, whereby said separate elementcoacts with said cams to move the movable element axially, and a deviceconnected to the movable contact of said switch arranged to be moved bysaid axially movable element.

3. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with an electriccircuit, including a switch adapted to control the operation of a motorand a shaft driven by the motor, a pair of elements disposed in opposedrelation, one of said elements being fixed to said shaft and the otherelement rotatably and slidably fitting said shaft and adapted to drive amechanism, the opposed faces of said elements being formed with relatedradially extending cam walls, a device between and engaging saidcamwalls, for drivingly connecting said elements together, whereby themotor driven element rotates said other element, a spring connected tosaid rotatable and slidable element and bearing against a portion of theother element and normally tending to maintain them in powertransmitting relation, but arranged to yield when the torque resistanceon said element connected to the mechanism exceeds the tension of saidspring, whereby said element connected to said shaft rotates relative tosaid rotatable and slidable element and said device coacts with said camwalls to move the latter element away from the element connected to saidshaft.

4. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a mechanismto be driven by a motor, of a pair of power transmitting elementsbetween the shaft driven by the motor and said mechanism, one thereofbeing connected to and driven by the shaft and the other element beingoperatively connected to said mechanism for driving it and free torotate relative to the shaft, whereby said first mentioned element mayrotate relative to said second mentioned element, one of said elementsbeing movable in the direction of its axis, an interlock between andengaging said elements for drivingly connecting them together butarranged to move the axially movable element relative to the otherelement when relative rotative movement between said elements takesplace, a spring connected to one of said elements and engaging the otherelement and normally tending to move the axially movable element towardthe other element, and means operated by said axially movable element tostop the motor.

5. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a mechanismto be driven and a motor driven shaft, of an annular element connectedto and driven by said shaft, a separate, annular element for drivingsaid mechanism, the last mentioned element being free to rotate relativeto said shaft and move thereon in the direction of its axis, saidelements having concentrically opposed portions formed with relatedradially extending channels the side walls of which are shaped toprovide cams, a device in said channels for drivingly connecting saidelements together but arranged to co-act with said cams due to relativerotative movement of said elements and move the axially movable elementaway from said element connected to said shaft, spring means connectedto said axially movable element and bearing against said other elementand normally tending to move said axially movable element toward saidother element and maintain said device in driving relation to said camsbut arranged to yield when the torque reaction on said separate elementexceeds the tension of said spring means and permit the driven elementto rotate relative to said separate element, whereby said device movesthe axially movable element away from the other element, and meansoperated by said axially movable element for stopping the motor.

6, In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a pair ofpower driven elements mounted to rotate one relative to the other abouta common axis, one thereof being adapted to be driven and the otherbeing adapted to drive a load handling mechanism, said last mentionedelement being mounted to move in the direction of its axis away from andtoward said driven element, an interlock between and engaging saidelements for drivingly connecting them together but arranged to move theaxially movable element relative to said driven element when relativerotative movement between said elements takes place, a rod carried byone of said elements and provided with an abutment at its outer end, aspring between the other element and said abutment normally tending tomove said axially movable element toward said driven element to maintainthem and said interlock in driving relation but permitting relativerotative movements between said elements when the tension of said springis exceeded, and means operated by the axially movable element forstopping the driving means for said driven element.

7. In mechanism of the class described, power transmitting elementscomprising disks mounted to rotate relative to each other on a commonaxis, one thereof being driven and the other being adapted to drive aload handling mechanism, one of said disks being movable in thedirection of its axis away from the other disk, the opposed walls ofsaid disks being formed with related recesses each having inclinedsides, an interlock in said recesses between the sides thereof fordrivingly connecting the disks together but arranged to co-act with saidsides to move the axially movable disk relative to the other disk whenrelative rotative movement between said disks takes place, and a springconnected to one of said disks and arranged to bear against the otherdisk and normally tending to prevent axial movement of said axiallymovable disk, whereby said disks and interlock are maintained in powertransmitting relation.

8. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a shaft anddriving means therefor, of a tubular member fixed at its inner end toand extending axially of said shaft beyond the end thereof, powertransmitting elements comprising an annulus mounted to rotate relativeto and slide endwise on said tubular member and provided with an elementadapted to drive a load handling mechanism, a ring fixed to andsurrounding the outer end of said tubular member, the opposed walls ofsaid annulus and ring being formed with related recesses each havinginclined sides, an interlock in said recesses between the sides thereoffor drivingly connecting said annulus and ring together but arranged toco-act with said sides to slide said annulus relative to said tubularmember when relative rotative movement between said annulus and ringtakes place, an abutment supported by said annulus on that side of saidring remote from said annulus and a spring in said tubular memberbetween the end of said shaft and said abutment and normally tending tomove said annulus toward said ring, and means operated by the slidingmovement 01 said annulus for stopping said driving means.

9. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a shaft anddriving means therefor, of a tubular member fixed at its inner end toand extending axially of said shaft beyond the end thereof, powertransmitting elements comprising an annulus mounted to rotate on andslide endwise on said tubular member and provided with an elementadapted to drive a load handling mechanism, a ring fixed to the outerend of said tubular member, the opposed walls of said annulus and ringbeing formed with related recesses each having inclined sides, aninterlock in said recesses between the sides thereof for drivinglyconnecting said annulus and ring together but arranged to co-act withsaid sides to slide said annulus endwise relative to said tubular memberwhen relative rotative movement between said annulus and ring takesplace, an abutment supported by said annulus on that side of said ringremote from said annulus and a spring in said tubular member between theend of said shaft and said abutment and normally tending to move saidannulus toward said ring,

means operated by the sliding movement of said annulus for stopping saiddriving means, and a collar carried by said annulus and enclosing saidring and abutment and serving as a guide for the latter.

10;"In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a shaftand driving means therefor, of a tubular member fixed at its inner endto and extending axially of said shaft beyond the end thereof, powertransmitting elements comprising an annulus mounted to rotate relativeto and slide endwise on said tubular member and provided with an elementadapted to drive a load handling mechanism, a ring fixed to andsurrounding the outer end of said tubular member, the opposed walls ofsaid annulus and ring being formed with related recesses each havinginclined sides, an interlock in said recesses between the sides thereoffor drivinglyconnecting said annulus and ring together but arranged toco-act with said sides to slide said annulus endwise relative to saidtubular member when relative rotative movement between said annulus andring takes place, diametrically arranged rods carried by said annulusand extending through enlarged openings formed in said ring, an abutmentsupported by the outer ends of said rods, a spring in said tubularmember between the end of said shaft and said abutment and normallytending to move said annulus toward said ring, and means operated by thesliding movement of said annulus for stopping said driving means.

11. A mechanism 01' the class described, the combination with amechanism to be driven by a motor, of a pair of power transmittingelements, one thereof being connected to and driven by the motor and theother element being connected to said mechanism for driving it, saidlast'mentioned element being mounted to rotate independently of saidfirst mentioned element, whereby the latter element may rotate relativeto said second mentioned element, one of said elements being movable inthe direction of its axis, an interlock between and engaging saidelements for drivingly connecting them together, but arranged to movethe axially movable element relative to the other element when relativerotative movement between said elements takes place, a spring mechanismconnected to said axially movable element, and bearing against the otherelement and normally tending to move the axially movable element towardsaid other element, and means operated by said axially movable elementfor stopping the motor. i

12. A mechanism of the class described, the combination with a mechanismto be driven by a motor, of a pair of power transmitting disks disposedin substantially face to face relation and mounted to rotate onerelative to the other about a common axis, one thereof being connectedto and driven by the motor and the other disk being connected to saidmechanism for driving it, said last mentioned disk being mounted to movein the direction of its axis toward and from said driven disk, theopposed faces of said disks being provided with related, radiallyextending recesses, the recesses in each disk face being uniformlyspaced, rods carried by said axially movable disk and extending throughenlarged openings formed in said driven disk and provided with abutmentson their outer ends, expansion springs between said abutments and saiddriven disk and normally tending to move said axially movable disktoward said driven disk, interlocking elements between and engaging thewalls of said recesses for drivingly connecting said disks together, butarranged to move the axially movable disk relative to said driven diskwhen relative rotative movement between said disk takes place, and meansoperated by said axially movable disk for stopping said motor.

PAUL E. HAWKINS.

